Selenium

Shortfalls of selenium cause thyroid function to stall, making weight loss extremely challenging. A study of 1,900 adults, researchers found that women with lower levels of selenium were more likely to have thyroid damage than those with adequate levels. And as the thyroid becomes increasingly damaged, metabolism slows further, and the body burns fewer calories and stores more fat. In addition, women begin to experience a host of non specific symptoms, including tiredness, anxiety and hair loss. Research shows that supplementation can reduce early markers of thyroid dysfunction by as much as 50 percent, while a controlled study found that supplementing with selenium improved thyroid function 43 percent more than a placebo — and subjects lost 90 percent more midsection fat as well. In a separate 2016 study, researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada found that Selenium increase in dietary intake corresponded to a 6% decrease in body fat. (22). The maintenance of a physiological concentration of selenium is a prerequisite not only to prevent thyroid disease but also to maintain overall health. (22.A). Research has shown that dietary supplementation with Selenium can reduce fasting serum insulin concentrations and the insulin resistance index. (22.B).